Life, 1883-12-20 · page 23 of 24
Life — December 20, 1883 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertisement disguised as entertainment** for the United States Mutual Accident Association, an insurance company. The cartoon shows forest animals injured by a falling tree. A badly hurt bear, trapped beneath the pine, reflects on his misfortune—he wouldn't mind broken bones if only he had **accident insurance** to protect his wife and child. The moral is heavy-handed: once recovered, he'll immediately purchase a policy. This is **satirical advertising**: the fable uses an anthropomorphized animal's regret to pitch insurance as essential protection. The joke operates on two levels—the absurdity of animals discussing insurance policies, and the implicit commentary on human vulnerability and financial insecurity. For modern readers, it illustrates how insurance companies marketed protection against industrial-era dangers (workplace accidents, injuries) by exploiting public anxiety. The advertisement emphasizes the association's age, size, and low rates compared to "stock companies," standard competitive claims of the period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
One night within the forest shade. A falling tree sad havoe made, For many animeils in line AS Were caught beneath ihe crashing pine, “Fon broken hones I wouldn't care,” +4 Remaried a hadly tnjurec hear, * “Tp Thad only been ENSURED, Ane bread for wife ane hahe securect,J But if from bed Lever rise x= QT For once in life I will be wise, DY Ane lose no time, you may he sure, ‘Til a POLICY procure Zz wy AE Le ye ‘ Lusure against Accidents in “the oid reliable” United States Mutual Accident Association, 320 and 322 Broadway, New York. - The Oldest, Largest, Strongest and Best Mutual Accident ssociation in the World.. Insures against Accidents at half the rates of stock companies. To Become a Member, write for | Circular and Application Blank, and when recetved, Sill out mnt your application, inclose $4, and forward it to the Secretary at Wl) New York, on receipt of which policy will be promptly mailed “J to you. $5000 Accident Insurance with $25 Weekly Indem- CHAREES:BVPEET 22d fo ucemciou pmenbiaroe (of Rocers,REET & Co) President, JAMES R. PITCHER, Secretary 2 BEEN, comicbooks.com